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The Einstein Vendetta
- GenresHistory
Paperback
About the author
Thomas Harding
51 books216 followersThomas Harding is a bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has written for the Sunday Times, the Washington Post and the Guardian, among other publications.
He is the author of HANNS AND RUDOLF which won the JQ-Wingate Prize for Non-Fiction; THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award; and BLOOD ON THE PAGE which won the Crime Writers’ Association “Golden Dagger Award for Non-Fiction”. For all his books, reviews and updates, go to thomasharding.com and follow him on X/ twitter @thomasharding
He is the author of HANNS AND RUDOLF which won the JQ-Wingate Prize for Non-Fiction; THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award; and BLOOD ON THE PAGE which won the Crime Writers’ Association “Golden Dagger Award for Non-Fiction”. For all his books, reviews and updates, go to thomasharding.com and follow him on X/ twitter @thomasharding
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2026
The Nazi occupation of Italy seen from the peculiar angle of the troubles of the family of Einstein's cousin, Robert. He had been in the country since the turn of the century and had married an Italian woman (Protestant as it happens) himself obviously a Jew.
Becoming a successful engineer Robert Einstein bought a villa and an estate in Tuscany called Il Focardo. Life became a little difficult due to the imposition of Fascist racial laws but not terribly so, and he avoided the deportations which began with Mussolini's alliance with Hitler. However the family's fortunes changed once the Allies broke the Gustav line and made their way up the country. A group of German soldiers came to the house searching for Robert who had gone into hiding and when they didn't find him committed a terrible reprisal against his wife and daughters, sadly just hours before the British arrived to liberate the area.
The story was interesting, tragic, and a little moving. It is useful to look a war from the events in the margins because there the human toll is often most apparent. Yet it did feel that the author squeezed every possible drop available into the book, what various incidental characters were wearing and so on, because in itself the story perhaps does not merit a lengthy treatment - there being rather scarce information about it. The efforts to find the killers in the post-war years fell flat but not the memory of what happened to the family which was the subject of documentaries and ongoing local commemorations.
My gripe is perhaps that the central claim of the book, and entwined in its title, that this was a personal vendetta to hurt Albert Einstein that came from the highest level has no evidence for it whatsoever. It seems possible, likely even, but not substantiated. And this is a pity as the murder of innocent people does not need added sensation.
Becoming a successful engineer Robert Einstein bought a villa and an estate in Tuscany called Il Focardo. Life became a little difficult due to the imposition of Fascist racial laws but not terribly so, and he avoided the deportations which began with Mussolini's alliance with Hitler. However the family's fortunes changed once the Allies broke the Gustav line and made their way up the country. A group of German soldiers came to the house searching for Robert who had gone into hiding and when they didn't find him committed a terrible reprisal against his wife and daughters, sadly just hours before the British arrived to liberate the area.
The story was interesting, tragic, and a little moving. It is useful to look a war from the events in the margins because there the human toll is often most apparent. Yet it did feel that the author squeezed every possible drop available into the book, what various incidental characters were wearing and so on, because in itself the story perhaps does not merit a lengthy treatment - there being rather scarce information about it. The efforts to find the killers in the post-war years fell flat but not the memory of what happened to the family which was the subject of documentaries and ongoing local commemorations.
My gripe is perhaps that the central claim of the book, and entwined in its title, that this was a personal vendetta to hurt Albert Einstein that came from the highest level has no evidence for it whatsoever. It seems possible, likely even, but not substantiated. And this is a pity as the murder of innocent people does not need added sensation.
June 20, 2026
In 1944, three members of the family of Robert Einstein were murdered in cold blood near Firenze (Florence) by German troops, shortly before the area was liberated.
Many have thought that the family relationship with Albert Einstein must have been the motive; hence the title of the book. However, after several investigations, resulting in different suspects, no solid answer could be found.
The first part of the book describes the situation leading up to the execution in cold blood of three Einstein women, causing husband and father Robert Einstein such grief that he ended up taking his own life shortly afterwards.
The second part is about the multiple investigations (American, Italian, German); the inconclusive outcomes and the guessing for the motive. This is the weak part of the book. It assumes that Hitler must have hated Albert Einstein so much that he wanted his Italian relatives killed but this is not substantiated.
Many have thought that the family relationship with Albert Einstein must have been the motive; hence the title of the book. However, after several investigations, resulting in different suspects, no solid answer could be found.
The first part of the book describes the situation leading up to the execution in cold blood of three Einstein women, causing husband and father Robert Einstein such grief that he ended up taking his own life shortly afterwards.
The second part is about the multiple investigations (American, Italian, German); the inconclusive outcomes and the guessing for the motive. This is the weak part of the book. It assumes that Hitler must have hated Albert Einstein so much that he wanted his Italian relatives killed but this is not substantiated.
November 1, 2026
Una sorpresa trovare questo libro e conoscere di questa storia in Italia a proposito del cugino di Einstein e della sua famiglia. Un libro che non risolve la questione dietro a quanto successo in Toscana ma che riporta alla luce le problematiche legate ai massacri perpetrati dai nazisti e dai fasciati ( è bene ricordarlo) dopo l’armistizio del ‘43. Comunque da apprezzare il lavoro che c’è dietro e come impostato il libro in sé.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews